Strap anchor



D. l. REITER STRAP ANCHOR June 6, 1967"" Filed Aug. 50, 1965 INVENTORfiwwzz. f. ff/ri" United States Patent 3,323,184 STRAP ANCHOR Daniel I.Reiter, 215 W. 88th St., New York, N.Y. 10024 Filed Aug. 30, 1965, Ser.No. 483,583 11 Claims. (Cl. 24114.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention concern :an anchor forsecuring a flexible strap or handle to a wall having an opening therein,the anchor engaging the strap and having clamping means securing theanchor in position on the strap whereby the anchor lies flat against thewall with the strap extending through the opening.

This invention relates to anchors or fasteners for straps and morespecifically to a novel and improved anchor for attachment to the end ofa flexible strap or handle after passing through an opening in the sidewall of a container to retain the strap in engagement with such wall.

While the invention is useful for a wide variety of applications, it isparticularly useful in the attachment of handles to womens handbags andthe like. In the construction of handbags, flexible handles of plastic,leather or the like are secured to opposing side walls, by passing theends of the handles through openings in said walls and attaching anchorsto the handle ends to hold them in place. Prior forms of anchors aredisclosed in United States Patents 2,821,229 and 2,860,396, granted toD. I. Reiter.

The anchor in accordance with this invention constitutes an improvementof prior known devices in that it provides an effective and secureanchor for straps and handles which is characterized by its simplicityof manufacture and ease of attachment to the handle.

Another object of the invention resides in the provi sion of a novel andimproved anchor for straps, flexible handles and the like.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent from the following description and accompanying drawingsforming part of the application.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention as initiallyformed from a piece of metal stock.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the completed embodiment of theinvention as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the anchor as shown in FIGURES 1and 2 in engagement with a strap to be secured to a container wall.

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of a portion of a container wall showingthe anchor in engagement with the strap to secure the latter in place.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing a modified formof the invention.

In the manufacture of containers and particularly womens handbags,handles have been secured to the side walls by forming a pair of spacedopenings in the side walls through which the ends of the handles arepassed. Anchors were then secured to the inner ends of the handles sothat when stress was placed on the handles, the anchors would lie flushagainst the side walls.

The improved anchor in accordance with the invention not onlyfacilitates its attachment to the handle or the strap as the case maybe, but also can be manufactured at a lower cost than prior knowndevices.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIGURES 1 and 2,the improved anchor generally denoted by the numeral is formed from astrip of flat material and includes a strap engaging opening or recess11 adjoining the edge 12 of the plate 13. A second strap engagingopening or aperture .14 is spaced from the opening or recess 11 and hasa generally circular configuration with a plurality of inwardlyextending pointed tabs 15 on its periphery. In the instant embodiment ofthe invention, the aperture 14 includes a pair of laterally directedslots 16, which form part of the aperture 14. With this arrangement theaperture '14 Will accommodate handles of various cross sectionalconfigurations such as tubular straps or straps having a flattenedconfiguration in the nature of an oval. The lower edge 17 of the plate10 has a plurality of outwardly extending pointed tabs 18 extendingthroughout the length of the edge 17.

The upper opening or recess 11 may take any of a variety of forms. Inthe illustration, the recess has a pair of vertical side walls 19 and atriangularly shaped bottom wall 20. The top of the recess 11 opens intothe edge 12 with the width of the opening, denoted by the numeral 21,being narrower than the distance between the side Walls 19. Thisarrangement facilitates the engagement of the strap with the recess 11though the particular configuration may take other forms, as forinstance those shown in the prior mentioned patents or in thealternative a single opening spaced inwardly from the edge 12.

After forming the anchor as illustrated in FIGURE 1, the tabs 15 and 18are then bent outwardly as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The body 13 is thenbent along a transverse line extending through the aperture 14 so thatthe folded portion 13' makes an angle of less than degrees with theremainder of the plate 13. In this position the tabs 18 are now directedtoward the plate 13 and the tabs 15 about one half of the aperture 14extend toward the tabs '15 about the other side of the aperture 14.

FIGURES 3 and 4 show the cooperation of this improved anchor with ahandle or strap to secure the latter to the side Wall of the handbag orother container. The wall of the container is denoted by the numeral 22and it is provided with an opening 23 through which the handle 24extends. The handle 24 after passing through the opening 23 is engagedby the opening or recess 11 in the upper part of the plate 13 and thenextends downwardly through the aperture 14. With the handle in thisposition the folded portion 13' of the plate 13 is then bent inwardly todrive the tabs 15 and 18 into firm engagement with the strap 24. Thefolded portion 13 forms with the remaining portion of the plate 13 aclamp which firmly secures the strap to the anchor. The clampingoperation can be accomplished by a simple press or any other proceduresuch as a hammer and anvil that will effect the clamping action. Becauseof the nature of the clamping structure, it is evident that the aperture14 will accommodate a wide variety of handle sizes and shapes, and thusforms a highly versatile anchor which avoids the need for a plurality ofanchors of different sizes to accommodate different handles.

The modified form of the invention is shown in FIG- URE 5. In thisembodiment, which is similar to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2,a modified clamping aperture 14 is provided/In this instance theaperture 14' is in the form of an oval and includes a plurality of tabs15' about the periphery of the aperture 14. Although two forms ofapertures 14 and 14' have been illustrated, it is evident that the formof the aperture can assume any of a large number of configurations Whilestill embodying advantages of the invention. For instance, the aperturecould be square, rectangular, diamond shaped or the like. It is alsoevident that the aperture 11 as previously discussed may assume variousshapes or configurations.

While only certain embodiments of the invention have been illustratedand described, it is apparent that alterations, modifications, andchanges may be made without departing from the true scope and spiritthereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An anchor for securing the end of a strap to the side wall of acontainer having an opening through which the strap passes, said anchorcomprising a flat body, recess means in the edge of said body forreceiving said strap after passing through said opening, means on saidedge of said body at least partially closing said recess and adapted toretain the strap therein, said body further including an aperture spacedfrom said recess means and said body being folded upon itself along aline through said aperture with said folded portion being spaced fromsaid body to form a strap clamp and strap engaging elements on saidfolded portion and on said body adjoining the last said opening wherebysaid strap upon insertion through said aperture is secured to saidanchor by forceably closing said clamp and urging said engaging elementsinto said strap.

2. An anchor according to claim 1 wherein said strap engaging elementscomprise pointed tabs extending from the edge of said aperture and fromthe edge of said folded body portion.

3. An anchor according to claim 1 wherein said strap engaging elementscomprise pointed tabs spaced about the periphery of said aperture andextending outwardly therefrom and spaced along the edge of said foldedbody portion.

4. An anchor according to claim 1 wherein said aperture is essentiallycircular and includes a pair of diametral slots extending outwardly fromthe circular aperture portion and wherein said line of fold extendsthrough said slots.

5. An anchor according to claim 1 wherein said aperture is in the formof an elongated oval with the major axis of said oval being coincidentwith said line of fold.

6. A strap anchor comprising an essentially rectangular plate with firstand second sets of opposing edges, means adjoining one edge of the firstset of edges for slidably receiving said strap, an opening between saidmeans and the other edge of the first set, strap engaging elementsadjoining the, edge of said opening and extending outwardly from oneface of said plate, and strap engaging elements adjoining said otheredge of the first set of edges and extending outwardly of said plate andin the direction of the first said elements, said plate being foldedupon itself along a line intersecting the last said opening andsubstantially parallel to said first set of edges to form an open strapreceiving clamp, said clamp adapted to be closed upon insertion of saidstrap through the last said opening to secure the strap to the anchor.

7. A strap anchor according to clam 6 wherein said strap engagingelements comprise pointed tabs.

8. A strap anchor according to claim 6 wherein said strap engagingelements comprise pointed tabs spaced about the periphery of the lastsaid opening.

9. A strap anchor according to claim 6 wherein said opening isessentially circular and includes a pair of out wardly extendingdiametral slots aligned with said line of fold.

10. A strap anchor according to claim 6 wherein said opening isessentially in the form of an oval with the major axis of the oval beingsubstantially coincident with the line of fold.

lll. An anchor for securing the end of a strap to the side wall of acontainer having an opening through which the strap passes, said anchorcomprising a fiat body, means adjoining the edge of said body forreceiving and engaging said strap after passing through said opening,said body further including an opening spaced from said means and beingfolded upon itself along a line through the last said opening with saidfolded portion being spaced from said body to form a strap clamp andstrap engaging means carried by said body whereby said strap uponinsertion through the last said opening is secured to said anchor byforceably closing said clamp and urging said means into said strap, saidstrap engaging means comprising pointed tabs on the periphery of thelast said opening and on the edge of said folded portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS BERNARD A. GELAK, PrimaryExaminer.

1. AN ANCHOR FOR SECURING THE END OF A STRAP TO THE SIDE WALL OF A CONTAINER HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH THE STRAP PASSES, SAID ANCHOR COMPRISING A FLAT BODY, RECESS MEANS IN THE EDGE OF SAID BODY FOR RECEIVING SAID STRAP AFTER PASSING THROUGH SAID OPENING, MEANS ON SAID EDGE OF SAID BODY AT LEAST PARTIALLY CLOSING SAID RECESS AND ADAPTED TO RETAIN THE STRAP THEREIN, SAID BODY FURTHER INCLUDING AN APERTURE SPACED FROM SAID RECESS MEANS AND SAID BODY BEING FOLDED UPON ITSELF ALONG A LINE THROUGH SAID APERTURE WITH SAID FOLDED PORTION BEING SPACED FROM SAID BODY TO FORM A STRAP CLAMP AND STRAP ENGAGING ELEMENTS ON SAID FOLDED PORTION AND ON SAID BODY ADJOINING THE LAST SAID OPENING WHEREBY SAID STRAP UPON INSERTION THROUGH SAID APERTURE IS SECURED TO SAID ANCHOR BY FORCEABLY CLOSING SAID CLAMP AND URGING SAID ENGAGING ELEMENTS INTO SAID STRAP. 